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Repeating: good advice

August 27, 2008 - from Jon Osborne's Blog

A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away (Chicago, if you must know) my manager at the time told me that when I left a phone message I should always repeat my phone number twice, and slowly, at the end of the message. That was good advice.... More


1347: the year contingent labor was born?

August 27, 2008 - from Jon Osborne's Blog

In 1347, plague swept across Europe, killing somewhere between a third to a half of the population.  In its wake, it left a labor shortage of unprecedented proportion.

Landlords... More


Oh the humanity

September 19, 2008 - from Jon Osborne's Blog

So far this week, Merrill Lynch was sold in a shotgun wedding to Bank of America; Lehman Brothers' U.S. operations wed Barclay's bank after the company was jilted by just about everyone... More


Where there is distress, there is opportunity

September 18, 2009 - from Jon Osborne's Blog

Business is in the business of solving other people's problems.  Case in point: years ago staffing entrepreneurs took note of corporate short-term labor needs and over the last... More


Selling...in the age of VMS

September 25, 2009 - from Jon Osborne's Blog

Our annual survey of large staffing buyers has indicated an unbroken chain of increased VMS usage year after year.  In 2008, the percentage of large buyers using VMS passed the... More


I know you're not independent contractor compliant

November 23, 2009 - from Jon Osborne's Blog

The next time you want to give a fright to your human resource department (and who doesn't?), call them up with a handkerchief over the receiver, breathe heavily and say "I know... More


Warning: SUTA geniuses at work in state labor departments

November 25, 2009 - from Jon Osborne's Blog

We are doing some research right now on expected 2010 increases in state unemployment taxes, and it's looking pretty scary. In Florida, for instance, the minimum annual rate for... More


What is the U.S. Census Bureau smoking?

December 28, 2009 - from Jon Osborne's Blog

According to a recent report from the U.S. Census Bureau, 3Q09 revenue in the U.S. employment services industry was down 7% from 3Q08, not bad at all given the recession.

Really? ... More


Secret message to C.I.A. : call us and ask about the "CWS Council"

December 29, 2009 - from Jon Osborne's Blog

A New York Times article recently revealed that private contractors are being used by the C.I.A. not just for logistical support but as de facto agents, participating in clandestine... More


Half of staffing buyers still use assignment limits--why?

February 19, 2010 - from Jon Osborne's Blog

When we surveyed staffing buyers in 2006 regarding contingent worker assignment limits, 51% said they had some kind of limit on length of assignment for such workers.  Limits varied... More